Advice from a Girls Who Code partner on landing that internship
Today we’re sharing some career and internship advice from a Girls Who Code partner! Cindy Elgamil is a Senior Human Resources Analyst at Prudential with a focus on talent management — in particular, early talent identification programs such as the Global Business and Technology Solutions (GBTS) Summer Internship, which has consistently hosted more than 60 interns and summer hires over the past few years. Cindy has also been a key partner to Girls Who Code since 2015, when Prudential became one of the first organizations in New Jersey to host the Summer Immersion Program. Cindy manages key components of the Summer Immersion Program experience, including identifying mentors for the girls, coordinating field trips, and planning the graduation where the girls pitch their projects. Cindy truly enjoys getting to know the girls — it’s incredible to see their transformation from Day 1 to their graduation. She also focuses on diversity and inclusion practices in GBTS and across the technology community.
Cindy graduated from Rutgers University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Management and Marketing. She went on to complete her MBA at Rutgers with a concentration in Global Business. She currently resides in Jacksonville, Florida with her husband, Diego, and their pet, a Victorian bulldog named Luigi. Cindy enjoys traveling — she and her husband are hoping to visit all the Wonders of the World. (So far, they’ve visited the Great Wall of China!) Read on for her advice on landing an internship.
How did you get your start at Prudential?
At Rutgers, I had an ethics professor who asked me if I would be interested in interning in the Global Business Ethics & Integrity Office at Prudential. Of course I said yes — I used to walk past Prudential every day on my way to Rutgers. It goes to show the power of networks. During my internship, I had challenging assignments that gave me exposure across the organization, and I even had the opportunity to meet with senior leaders. Ultimately, it led me to a full-time position in a communications role at Prudential. We often joke that I created my own rotational program the first few years of my career because I had the opportunity to work in three different business areas. I learned so much in the different business units and appreciate the importance placed on talent mobility at Prudential — the sky is really the limit here. I would’ve never had the opportunity to try different assignments if I didn’t have the support of my managers — at Prudential, you have people who are invested in your success, which is why it’s such a wonderful place to work.
What makes a candidate stand out to you?
As you know, I support the technology community at Prudential. We are looking for candidates who have a passion for technology — a willingness to learn and try new things. I think what’s most exciting about our opportunities is that we have a wide range of opportunities available. In 2017, there were 112 interns across the IT Community at Prudential. While some internship assignments require advanced skills, others don’t — we are really open to the caliber of candidates that we see. It’s all about demonstrating your drive — and what you can bring to Prudential. We have the “Bring Your Challenges” campaign at Prudential — we are looking for candidates who enjoy a good challenge and are innovative in the way they approach their work. Candidates who have done their due diligence always stand out — it’s great to see individuals who know about Prudential and what’s important to us, as an organization.
When is the best time to prepare and send applications out?
It feels like the process gets earlier and earlier every year. In order to stay competitive in the market and attract the best candidates, we start recruiting in the fall — this means that we are out on campuses and attending conferences beginning in September! It’s a great idea to update your resume after you complete your summer internship assignment so that you can apply for opportunities in the fall. Obviously, we recruit in the spring as well — but the most opportunities are available in the fall, so I would encourage everyone to begin applying then!
What’s your advice for someone who wants to land an internship or job but has little or no previous experience?
As I mentioned, Prudential has an early talent identification program that is designed for this reason. We have individuals with little to no previous experience who land an internship and have a valuable experience that leads to them pursuing a career in technology. We attribute that to our early talent identification program. We see candidates who have little to no formal experience, but they demonstrate leadership skills and the desire to learn more about technology with their extracurricular activities. Transferable skills are really important, and a lot of times candidates don’t make that connection. If you’re the captain of a volleyball team, that shows collaboration and leadership skills — skillsets that are critical for any role at Prudential. Make sure to capture those transferable skills, because we take that into consideration. Also, get involved in as many different things as possible at school — if you enjoy it, great. If you don’t, that great, too — it’s important to figure out what you find interesting and what you don’t.
What woman inspires you and why?
My mom is my biggest inspiration. She is such a ray of sunshine — she has such a positive spirit and has been my biggest cheerleader all my life. She has always encouraged me to see the positive things and has shaped me into the person I am today. She lives life to the fullest and is eager to learn more and try new things everyday. She is the rock of our family, always making time for the most important things. Things weren’t always easy for my mom growing up, so to see what a beautiful person she is and how she changes the lives of people around her is just amazing. I hope one day I can be half the woman she is!
What are the top three places you want to travel to?
Aside from the Wonders of the World (I know I’m dreaming big here!), I would have to say Italy, France, and Greece. I’ve always been fascinated by these cultures — I would love to spend some time experiencing everything these beautiful countries have to offer.
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